Country Director at Shelter for Life, Afghanistan_Deadline:1-Apr-2012

Position:        Country Director

Location:       Afghanistan

Job Level:      Senior

Reports to:    Director of International Programs

General Job Description:

The position of Country Director serves as the primary contact to HQ, interacting with other implementing partners, implementing units, and international donors. The Country Director is responsible for maintaining the safety and integrity of the overall mission, as well as ensuring that operational goals and objectives are achieved through appropriate/professional means. He/She will be required to provide financial management oversight; including developing and analyzing operational budgets, and coordinating relevant updates of budget expenditures; assuring that reporting is accurate, timely and transparent. The CD is expected to periodically travel to Field Offices and targeted regions within Afghanistan to provide technical program and administrative support to senior management staff. The CD is responsible for donor/stakeholder engagement in Afghanistan, and may be required to provide formal presentation of SFL vision, mission and program activities to support ongoing program development in country. The CD will work to establish a respected presence within the international aid community and strategically position the organization as a leading Implementing Partner agency amongst the NGO community in Afghanistan. A primary function of the CD is to jointly develop strategic intent for Afghanistan with senior Management of SFL, and identify funding opportunities and assist in program development and proposal preparation in this context. The CD is responsible for hiring and managing CFO staff in addition to expatriate staff, as appropriate to program requirements. Develop, uphold and enforce SFL policies and procedures as required; working with SFL HQ to ensure that an esprit de corps, marked by personal and professional integrity, is maintained within the organization.

The duties listed above are not inclusive of all duties for the Country Director (see SOW on the following page). SFL reserves the right to change and update position descriptions at any time.

Required Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills to negotiate and work with foreign experts, managers, government and non-government officials, local staff, and target populations.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of humanitarian aid programming, project development, grant administration and management procedures. This work also requires a mastery of the principles, methodologies and practices for successful organizational management of an INGO country program.
• Able to read and interpret documents, and communicate with others as necessary to perform job duties effectively. English language fluency required. Local language comprehension desired.
• Prior experience in Afghanistan or other neighboring countries of similar context is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in M & E (monitoring and evaluation).
• High level of project management expertise required; knowledge and experience implementing community based programming is highly desired.
• Must be innovative and resourceful in identifying and creating an awareness of new initiatives, which respond to the needs and practices of project beneficiaries. Decisions and recommendations must often be made on the basis of incomplete and inadequate information.
• Candidate must be articulate and demonstrate clarity in written and oral communications and, be capable of responding appropriately to challenging and uncertain situations, requirements and inquiries. The incumbent will be required to travel from the main SFL Central Field Office (CFO) in Kabul, to regional Field Offices for related program activities and staff oversight.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Afghanistan Country Director shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Country Strategy
  1. a.Works with SFL HQ senior Management to develop country specific/medium-term Country Strategy to guide and inform future program development and the decision making process in order to ensure a cohesive/appropriate approach to achieving SFL’s overall mission in Afghanistan is promoted and maintained.

• Represents the work of SFL to current or potential donors, partners and beneficiaries.
  1. a.Promotes the work of SFL and provides SFL program briefings to donors (State Department, USAID, etc.) and other stakeholders as needed, both written and oral.
  2. b.Looks for new partnership opportunities with other international and local non-profits.
  3. c.Contributes to the development of beneficial organizational relationships.

• Develops, composes, and submits concept papers and proposals in compliance with donor requirements in consultation with other field staff and the program development department at SFL HQ.

1. 1. Actively seeks new program opportunities in keeping with overall country strategy.
   2. Engages in background research and monitoring of country and regional developments.
   3. Monitors changes in the external operating environment, especially in regard to government and donor policy changes in Afghanistan.
   4. Researches funding opportunities relevant to the achievement of SFL strategic objectives.
   5. Provides planning documents and recommendations to HQ as requested.
   6. Conducts field visits/site assessments as required.

• Provides Administrative Leadership to the Central Field Office (CFO) in Afghanistan.
  1. Provides Administrative Leadership for all Program Managers and personnel working on current and future projects.
  2. Assumes full authority over all current local and international staff members throughout Afghanistan based on the guidelines in the HQ Employee Handbook.
  3. Reviews; understands and coordinates completion of financial reports in accordance with SFL and donor requirements.
  4. Draws funds and pays expenses.
  5. Ensures that all program accounting practices meet/exceed SFL and donor standards.
  6. Provides final approval of hiring and/or firing of local staff as per budget and as needed
  7. Ensures that no legally-binding commitments or obligations are made in Afghanistan without the prior knowledge and consent of SFL HQ senior Management.
  8. Functions as team member of the SFL Afghanistan team.

• Establishes and maintains secure operations in Afghanistan
  1. As a matter of high priority: Ensures a vigilant/appropriate approach to all security protocols; policy and operational responses to security threats – both real and/or hypothetical are maintained for the protection of all staff personnel throughout the country.

• Ensures that weekly and monthly narrative and financial reports are submitted to HQ in a timely; accurate and professional manner.

• Prepares country offices administratively for anticipated funded projects.
  1. Works with the Headquarters to develop administrative and financial systems of management and establish these in Field Offices
  2. Assess and coordinate the relevant staffing and administrative needs for all current and future programs

• Works with the Headquarters to develop administrative and financial systems of management and establish these in Field Offices

1. Assess and coordinate the relevant staffing and administrative needs for all current and future programs

• Provides Spiritual Leadership to the Staff Members
• 1. Openness to participating/leading of prayer sessions as well as personal spiritual development for staff members as appropriate.
  2. Leads by example; demonstrating through personal integrity, the concept of Godly “servant leadership” to all staff members

• Other duties as required by SFL senior Management or Board of Directors.

 Please submit resumes/CVs to Marguerite at employment@shelter.org

Moreinfo:  http://shelter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183&Itemid=134